Down by four in the 9th? No problem.

[Ghoulish Delight]

What's interesting is that had the Dodgers not given up 3 runs in the top of the 9th, they probably would have lost.

With a 1 run lead, San Diego would have brought in Trevor Hoffman to close the game. The guy's unstoppable. Gagne may have been spectacular before he turned all Dreifort, but he's got nothing on Hoffman. He's 3 saves away from the career record. Until last night he had only blown, I believe, 5 saves in his career against the Dodgers in his 13 seasons. Had he started the 9th with a 1 run lead, forget it.

But with a 4 run lead, it's not a save situation. So they sat Hoffman down and brought in Adkins. When he suddenly gave up 2 home runs in a row, THEN they needed to bring in Hoffman. But, now Hoffman's warmed up, sat down, then quickly warmed up again. A closer is used to a very particular warmup routine. A properly warmed up Hoffman would not have given up those homeruns.

So, in the running for game MVP, honorable mention must be given to Hong-Chih Kuo who gave up the 3 runs in the 9th!


ETA: Check that, last night was only the third blown save in 58 attempts for Hoffman against the Dodgers.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

A closer is used to a very particular warmup routine. A properly warmed up Hoffman would not have given up those homeruns.

In 1926, the Cardinals brought in Grover Cleveland Alexander to seal the deal in a sticky situation against the Yankees in game 7. Alexander was ancient by those standards, he had won his start the night before, and, as legend has it, he was probably hung over. He took care of business.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

In 1926, the Cardinals brought in Grover Cleveland Alexander to seal the deal in a sticky situation against the Yankees in game 7. Alexander was ancient by those standards, he had won his start the night before, and, as legend has it, he was probably hung over. He took care of business.

And David Wells WAS hung over when he pitched his perfect game.

Not saying that interrupted warmup is a guarantee of failure, but history is on the side of a warmed up Hoffman. 53 for 55 is hard to argue with.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

In 1926, the Cardinals brought in Grover Cleveland Alexander to seal the deal in a sticky situation against the Yankees in game 7. Alexander was ancient by those standards, he had won his start the night before, and, as legend has it, he was probably hung over. He took care of business.

1926??? I think the game has changed enough since then to make this kind of comparison meaningless.

However I would freely speculate that Hoffman's performance (or lack there of) was as much mental as physical. These youngsters have been told over and over again that they are "finely tuned machines" or words to that effect. Eventually it sinks in so that they believe they can only be "on" if they follow their exact warm-up ritual. The players of 1926 were not burdened with this preconceived notion of perfection.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

The players of 1926 were not burdened with this preconceived notion of perfection.

But neither were they being asked to throw the kinds of pitches that are thrown today. Beating major league hitters requires a level of precission and control that does merit rigorous physical and mental preparation. They aren't just rearing back and throwing a ball hard and straight at a target. In 1926, movement on pitches was the exception, thrown every once in a while to fool the batter. Now, even your fastball better have movement on it, and that movement requires near mechanical perfection to avoid mistakes. Because, as evidenced yesterday, major league hitters will quickly make you pay for those mistakes.

I'd say it's a fair bet that even the best hitters of 1926 wouldn't stand a chance against today's pitchers, and vice versa.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

In 1926, movement on pitches was the exception, thrown every once in a while to fool the batter.

Not counting the handful of grandfathered spitballers.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I'd say it's a fair bet that even the best hitters of 1926 wouldn't stand a chance against today's pitchers, and vice versa.

Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby worked fanatically on their hitting as did Ted Williams a generation later. Since hitting is not just about being yoked up a la Barry, (see Wade Boggs), I think they'd do fine, although there would be a period of adjustment.

[MickeyD]

What a series. Friday and Sunday were great games (though I would have preferred a different outcome on Friday, of course.) Saturday wasn't exactly a "great" game, but the Padres kicked butt, so I'll take it. And holy crap what a game last night!!! I was watching it until about the eighth inning when the Padres were up 7-5. I turned it off and headed to the gym, figuring a) it would be on at the gym and b) two runs, Trevor would come in, Hells Bells, game over. It wasn't on at the gym. Grrr. I had no idea that the Pads had scored 2 more runs after I got to the gym or anything. Finally at about 10:50 one of the local news channels that was on ran the story about the 4 homers & mentioned that the game was tied. I think I lasted about 15 more seconds before I e-stopped the treadmill and went to my car to listen to the game.......Then, I arrived home right when Garciaparra was at bat & by the time I got inside and turned the TV on the Dodgers were celebrating at home plate.

What a freakin' roller coaster ride! I keep telling all my friends that this closeness & back & forth between the Dodgers & the Padres remindes me a lot of the end of the season in 1996, when I first became a Padres fan. It's just too bad that they aren't playing each other for the last series of the season like they did then....

[Ghoulish Delight]

All I can say is...thank the scheduling gods that the Dodgers aren't playing the Padres any more. I'll take the 9 game road trip to end the season over another series with them.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

All I can say is...thank the scheduling gods that the Dodgers aren't playing the Padres any more. I'll take the 9 game road trip to end the season over another series with them.

Okay, so let me get this, you are a Pads' fan? Do you ever come to home games? I remember you and CP had come down to SD one night, staying at/near Horton Plaza. But I can't remember why and I think the ballpark wasn't open yet?

Hey MickeyD!!!

[Kevy Baby]

I'm pretty sure that GD bleeds Dodger Blue, but I could be mistaken.